ENERGY STAR Labeled Building Profile

The Ariel Rios Building, a national historic landmark located in the center of Washington, DC, serves as the headquarters facility of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It also houses an operating Post Office and a shooting range for U.S. Secret Service. Named "Ariel Rios" in memory of a fallen ATF agent, the building was designed as the centerpiece of the historic 70-acre Federal Triangle government office complex.

Originally constructed in 1931?1934 for the U.S. Post Office (and later occupied by the Treasury Department's Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and the Internal Revenue Service), the 8-story above-grade building has large open hallways and stairwells, high ceilings, and historic elements that create challenges for maintaining and operating the building. A two-phase modernization of the building was completed in 1999 (Phase I ? June 1994; Phase II ? November 1999), which began to significantly improve the building?s efficiency. As of 2011, the site energy intensity of the building was 64kBtu/ft2/yr, 39 percent less than the national average.

The building management staff has closely partnered with its lead tenant to continually improve the building?s operating efficiency. Since occupancy by EPA, GSA has upgraded numerous building systems within Ariel Rios to ensure they are energy efficient and sustainable. The lighting system in the building lowers the need for air conditioning due to low heat-producing light fixtures, decreased duration, fewer lights, and the localization of the task lighting. Occupancy sensing equipment was installed in most conference rooms and mechanical rooms. In FY2010, GSA identified several American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) energy conservation measures (ECMs) for the Ariel Rios building. The building also participates in GSA?s ?Interruptible Load for Reliability? Energy Demand Response program for the National Capital Region, in which building-specific curtailment plans are implemented during peak demand periods.

EPA?s commitment to environmental issues promoted their sustainable goals. EPA design decisions created a healthful working environment; energy conserving design strategies; resource conservation through re-use, recycling and reduction of materials; and pollution protection through the use of product, process and technologies with lower global impact. Recently, EPA through its Customer Technology Solutions (CTS) system significantly contributed to reducing the energy footprint for the building. The CTS contract provided energy-efficient electronic equipment (PCs, laptops, printers, copiers, and multi-function devices) and enabled centralized power management.

In addition to the efforts to save energy described above, recent sustainability enhancements include the greening of the building?s South Courtyard via a variety of storm water management techniques?planting sustainable native plants, installing permeable concrete, pavers and reused granite coping, utilizing recycled glass to cover the storm water retention cell?that mitigate harmful runoff during heavy rainstorms. In addition, the building is being readied to house one of five federally-owned electric car charging stations in the region.

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Please note: Narrative information in this profile has been provided by General Services Administration or a representative of this facility. Other building information was verified and submitted to EPA at the time of application. Building energy performance, operating characteristics, and ownership/management may be subject to change over time.